Food Stamp Diet

In 2007, some members of congress decided live on an average food stamp diet of $21/week. Why? "The crux of the challenge: to provide a small glimpse into the choices that people who use food stamps must make each day... The challenge coincides with congressional consideration of the Farm Bill, which includes the food stamp program, the minimum benefits of which have not been raised since the mid-1970s." About the same time, Jay and I were spending roughly $40/week for the two of us. We had no idea that we lived on a food stamp diet! At this time, a family of four would get a maximum of $668/month (about $40/week per person). I should add that our $40/week included items not allowed to be purchased such as beer and household cleaning products (see below).

Our typical weekly food purchases in 2007 (which I can remember):
bananas
black beans
corn
turkey
tomatoes
bread
peanut butter
tuna
eggs
milk
yogurt
snack bars
spinach

Here are some great links about the members of congress and how they did on the diet:
http://foodstampchallenge.typepad.com/
http://www.dchunger.org/blog/

Eligible Food Items
http://www.fns.usda.gov/snap/retailers/eligible.htm

Households CAN use SNAP benefits to buy:
Foods for the household to eat, such as:
-- breads and cereals;
-- fruits and vegetables;
-- meats, fish and poultry; and
-- dairy products.


Seeds and plants which produce food for the household to eat.

In some areas, restaurants can be authorized to accept SNAP benefits from qualified homeless, elderly, or disabled people in exchange for low-cost meals.

Households CANNOT use SNAP benefits to buy:
Beer, wine, liquor, cigarettes or tobacco;

Any nonfood items, such as:
-- pet foods;
-- soaps, paper products; and
-- household supplies.
Vitamins and medicines.
Food that will be eaten in the store.
Hot foods.